Diagnosed with diabetes insipidus in 2012, Mr Gliddon spent three years battling persistent extreme thirst and excessive urination.
Finally, determined to figure out what had caused the condition, the 26-year-old booked himself in for a brain scan in early 2015.
Diabetes insipidus is most commonly brought on by dysfunctional kidneys or a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone but in Mr Gliddon’s case the cause was different – he had germinoma, a rare form of brain cancer that targets the pituitary glands.
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READ NOW“The scariest thing about my whole story is that I had none of the usual brain cancer symptoms – no headaches or nausea or dizziness or anything,” Mr Gliddon said.
“I just wanted to figure out where the diabetes insipidus had come from so went for a scan.”
Following three months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation Mr Gliddon was cleared of cancer less than eight months after his original diagnosis in May 2015.
Now, he and six friends are preparing to cycle close to 3500km from Melbourne to Fiona Stanley Hospital, where Mr Gliddon received treatment.
Dubbed Tour for a Cure, the 25-day adventure begins on September 27 and the group is aiming to raise $20,000 for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation along the way.
“The idea for the bike ride came about when I was busy going through chemotherapy and my friend, Cody Hudson, came over to see me,” Mr Gliddon said.
“He floated the idea of riding across Australia once the cancer was in remission and we went from there.”
Mr Gliddon credits his family and friends for helping him through one of the most difficult periods of his life and said he was determined to try to pass on some of that support.
“I’ve chosen the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation because brain cancers kill the most children out of all diseases in Australia but is also the type of cancer that receives the least funding from the Federal Government,” he said. To donate to the Tour for a Cure visit www.curebraincancer.org.au/my-fund raising/10128/tour-for-the-cure.
You can also follow the group’s progress on their Facebook page, Tour for a Cure.
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